CHAPTER 16: Of Good Works
(Parts One through Three)

Good works and the Christian faith are strange bedfellows—misunderstood more often than not. Consider the following statements:

1. God is good and He works, so all of His works are good (Mark 10:13).

2. God commands people to be good and to work, so good works are required of man, by God (Matthew 5:48).

3. The only human being to perform only good works is Jesus Christ. All others have sinned, and since the wages of sin is death, all human beings are in big trouble with God (Romans 3:23 & 6:23).

4. No amount of good works performed by any mere human can atone for, or reverse the effects of one bad work [sin] (Ephesians 2:8-9).

5. Even the best works sinful people can perform are unacceptable in God’s sight since they are not flawless, nor motivated solely for the glory of God (Isaiah 64:4). Our situation, if left to ourselves, is hopeless. That is the bad news of the gospel.

But God…

6.The saved are forgiven and declared righteous on the basis of good works. WHAT?! It’s true, but the good works that save us are not ours. They are Jesus’ good [no wait, perfect] works. Jesus lived the sinless life of good works God requires of all of us, that none of us have performed. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins we have committed (1 Corinthians 15:3). By faith we receive the reward of righteousness due Him for His good works, and He takes the penalty for our bad works.

That is the good news of the gospel.

(Part Two)

The message of the gospel is clear: our good works are not required for, nor do they contribute to salvation. Salvation is based on Christ’s good works on our behalf (both His sinless life and His death on the cross in our place.) But as Paul makes clear in the following passages, good works are an essential part of the life of those who are saved by God’s grace alone, received through faith alone in Christ alone.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Verses 8-9—We are not saved by our good works; but verse 10—we are saved for good works.

Titus 3:3-5, 8 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit… 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Verses 3-5, & 8—Our good works do not save us; but as verse 8 clearly states, those who believe must be careful to maintain good works.

(Part Three)

We have no natural ability to perform “good works” (Romans 5:6). Even our best efforts are short of perfect (Isaiah 64:6), and God does not grade on a curve. Even the things we do that might be considered good are never done solely for the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet as believers we are to “be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8), not to gain God’s love or approval, but in grateful obedience to the Lord who has already given us His love and approval in Christ.

How then are believers to perform good works in grateful obedience to God for saving us? Here are a few pointers:

Do what God in His Word says is good, not what we may think is good.
Do good prayerfully, asking for the right motives.
Do good in the power of the Holy Spirit, for whatever is done in the strength of the flesh, is not truly good.
Do what is done for God’s glory—alone.

And consider this: If no one can do all that God requires, it is even more clear that no one can do more than God requires. Why? Because God requires perfection. “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)